An Introduction to Technical Writing

Abstract: Effective technical writing is an essential skill form every graduate student and virtually every student has had at least one class as an undergraduate on writing essays of various sorts. Unfortunately, these classes generally teach very little that is of practical relevance to writing technical papers and reports. In this colloquium, I will give students a brief introduction to the issues of technical writing and how they differ dramatically from the essay writing most students learned as undergraduates. In particular, I will focus on practical tips for organizing technical papers and presenting technical information, give example of well-organized and poorly-organized techncal writing, and also give some advice on effective language use in technical writing. In addition, I will give a few tips on presenting technical work to large groups, another essential skill that is frequently not taught directly.